tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post1111961236751632048..comments2015-03-30T10:25:51.448-07:00Comments on Raising Matt Cain: 8 7 2 2 4 5M.C. O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12258035192484655635noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-57990846201261800122008-05-15T06:14:00.000-07:002008-05-15T06:14:00.000-07:00Brother Bob:I am in Brooklyn visiting my grandson ...Brother Bob:<BR/>I am in Brooklyn visiting my grandson Guthrie. (He is cute as hell.) Approaching LaGuardia yesterday I had a spectacular flyby of Brooklyn, then all of Manhattan, then the Bronx. I got a great look at the Yankee Stadia, old and new, side by side. The new one is the same shape but seems a little bigger. So although I will never go to a game at the old HTRB, at least I saw it once.<BR/>PS- Misch is a dud.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-35937511233088381352008-05-14T13:58:00.000-07:002008-05-14T13:58:00.000-07:00"I'd rather see our young guys learn to take pitch..."I'd rather see our young guys learn to take pitches and make good swings rather than bunt."<BR/><BR/>DUH. In other words, you wish our guys were better hitters. Don't we all? You must admit that learning to bunt is MUCH MORE doable than learning to become a great hitter. In fact, how many ever "learn" to be a great hitter?? By the age of 27 or so, you have your skill set or you don't. Bunting is more of an acquired skill...as well as an acquired taste.JC Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00666659454815710731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-7153365603433048732008-05-14T12:28:00.000-07:002008-05-14T12:28:00.000-07:00Did Ron's comment about links get to you? Only tw...Did Ron's comment about links get to you? Only two? I almost said the same thing, but he beat me to it.<BR/><BR/>It was not hard to see a little "Seaver" in Matt last night. He clearly did not have his best stuff yet he battled through to the end (almost). In fact, he got tougher as the game went on. We all know that is a trait of a great pitcher.<BR/><BR/>Needless to say, I don't agree with you about bunts. Do I really have to remind you that bunting results (almost always) in BALLS IN PLAY. This can not be underestimated, especially with a team that can't draw walks. Bunts also allow weak hitters to positively contribute (know any teams with weak hitters?). Bunts greatly decrease double plays. Bunting for a hit, which for players with plus speed is only a bit lower % than swinging away, has the extra long term benefit of altering the defensive alignment. YOU KNOW ALL THIS. Obviously a hit is the best "strategy" and if all your players are great hitters, bunting becomes a secondary tool (but it STILL has a role). We are so far from that situation that we MUST bunt often. Productive plate appearances are CRUCIAL to poor hitting teams. We can't hit well therefore we will make outs, giving us one or two more chances won't change that. However, one or two more productive outs every game will result in a few more runs. Considering how many one run games we play, that is substantial. You can wait for the homer (don't hold your breath) but I want to see us make something happen.JC Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00666659454815710731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-69264700980406643762008-05-14T12:01:00.000-07:002008-05-14T12:01:00.000-07:00Bunting is a pet peeve of mine. There are fast gu...Bunting is a pet peeve of mine. There are fast guys who could bunt to advantage, but it is a rare, rare skill, and few do it well. Guys like Juan Pierre should learn to be more selective and walk more. That would get them on base more often where they could use their speed. Also, more selective hitters improve their average by swinging at good pitches to hit.<BR/><BR/>I'd rather see our young guys learn to take pitches and make good swings rather than bunt. Eventually teams take away the bunt by moving the third baseman in, and unless the bunter-batter is a threat to get line-drive hits, that "weapon" is nullified. Bunts are important in sacrifice situations, but "bunting for a basehit" is a low-percentage play, except for a very small number of highly skilled bunters. There are a few situations (late in close games with the corner inflielders back) that improve the odds. But good fielding pitchers (Reuter, Maddux) neutralize the bunt, as well as high fastball pitchers (like Matt).<BR/><BR/>If I recall, Tim Raines and Rickey Henderson didn't bunt much, but both used their speed to help their teams win games. That's because they were good hitters, selective, and got walked a lot.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and thanks for dropping in to join the chat!M.C. O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12258035192484655635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-59530325270083637132008-05-14T11:31:00.000-07:002008-05-14T11:31:00.000-07:00bunting = hits. On the Giants, Velez should learn ...bunting = hits. On the Giants, Velez should learn how to bunt because of his speed. Burris already understands bunting and I have seen him do it this season then immediately steal himself into scoring position.<BR/><BR/>Some guys that bunting was effective for in recent memory.<BR/>Think Florida Marlins with Pierre and Castillo. Those guys bunted like every other at bat and scored a lot of runs for their teams by being on that way. <BR/><BR/>I missed the game last night, but if it was Michael Bourn that tried to bunt, than it makes a lot of sense to see try and utilize his speed.<BR/><BR/>Lastly I remember my favorite bunting for a basehits are the sneak attack bunts of Benito Santiago in the 9th innings of a game to get on and make a 2 run HR possible.Clintsfgiants.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-84199839852546912502008-05-14T09:51:00.000-07:002008-05-14T09:51:00.000-07:00Not to belabor the obvious, but this was an extrem...Not to belabor the obvious, but this was an extremely impressive performance. The line should be 8 6 2 1 4 5. Lance Berkman's "hit" in the third should have been a double play ground ball - error Bowker, and Tejada does not score. Matt composed himself, pitched out of that inning, came back strong in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, and finished the side in the eighth after Lee's homer. This is the kind of bullish determination that you expect of the very best power pitchers in the game.Zonoreply@blogger.com